Aglaonema plant named ‘Decora’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Decora’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant form; compact growth habit; freely clumping habit; full, dense and bushy appearance; upper leaf surfaces green and silver in color; undulate leaf margins; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Aglaonema hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Decora’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Decora’.

The new Aglaonema is the result of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Apopka, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Aglaonema cultivars with resistance to pathogens and pests.

The new Aglaonema originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2000, of an unnamed selection of the Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Silver Bay, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Emerald Beauty, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13,824, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June, 2000 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Apopka, Fla.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by cuttings since September, 2002 in a controlled environment in Apopka, Fla. has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Decora’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Decora’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant form.     -   2. Compact growth habit.     -   3. Freely clumping habit; full, dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Upper leaf surfaces green and silver in color.     -   5. Undulate leaf margins.     -   6. Tolerant to low temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Apopka, Fla., plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the female parent selection, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact and denser than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema had shorter internodes than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had narrower leaves with more         undulate margins than plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the female parent selection         differed in leaf coloration.     -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more cold         temperature-tolerant than plants of the female parent selection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Apopka, Fla., plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Emerald Beauty, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact and denser than         plants of the cultivar Emerald Beauty.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema had more undulate         margins than leaves of plants of the cultivar Emerald Beauty.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Emerald Beauty         differed in leaf coloration.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of the cultivar Jubilee, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,270. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Apopka, Fla., plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Jubilee in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact, denser and         more arching than plants of the cultivar Jubilee.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema had shorter internodes than         plants of the cultivar Jubilee.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had narrower leaves with more         undulate margins than plants of the cultivar Jubilee.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Jubilee differed         in leaf coloration.     -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more cold         temperature-tolerant than plants of the cultivar Jubilee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Aglaonema, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aglaonema.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Decora’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second page are close-up views of upper and lower surfaces of developing leaves (bottom of sheet) and fully expanded leaves (top of sheet) of ‘Decora’.

The photograph on the third sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Jubilee’ (left) and ‘Decora’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Decora has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Aglaonema that were grown in 25-cm containers, in Apopka, Fla., in a fiberglass and polyethylene-covered greenhouse with light levels about 1,800 footcandles. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 21° C. to about 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 10° C. to about 14° C. Plants used for the photographs and description were about nine months from planting. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Decora. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Aglaonema             hybrid cultivar Silver Bay, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Aglaonema hybrid cultivar Emerald             Bay, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,824. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 days at 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at 19° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 45 days at 29°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 70 days at 19°             C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as             leaves develop; inverted triangle, symmetrical and uniform.         -   Growth habit.—Compact growth habit. Plant size appropriate             for 15-cm to 25-cm containers.         -   Growth habit.—Freely clumping habit; plants typically             produce about five offshoots per plant; full, dense and             bushy appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 58 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About             1.5 cm. Internode length: About 1.35 cm. Aspect: Upright.             Strength: Sturdy; somewhat flexible. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, immature: 145C. Color, mature: 148A tinged             with 162C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; single. Length:             About 21 cm. Width: About 5.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire; undulating.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             leathery, thick. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Center, 194C, with random             areas of 191A to 191B; towards the margins, 137A to lighter             and more green than 147A; random marginal flecks, 194C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Darker and greener than             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Center, 191C to             191D, with faint areas of 191A; towards the margins, darker             and more green than 147A; random marginal flecks, 191C to             191D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Greener than             147A. Venation, upper surface: Midvein, immature: 194C             tinged with 138B. Midvein, mature: 191A. Lateral veins:             Similar to lamina. Venation, lower surface: Midvein,             immature: 147B to 147C. Midvein, mature: 147B. Lateral             veins: 147A. Petiole: Aspect: Initially upright; when             mature, about 40° from vertical; base, clasping. Length:             About 9.4 cm. Diameter, distal: About 4.5 cm. Diameter,             proximal: About 1.6 cm. Color: 147B; towards the base, 145C.             Wing length: About 6.9 cm. Wing diameter: About 7 mm. Wing             color, outer surface: 147B. Wing color, inner surface: 147C             to 147D. -   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on     plants of the new Aglaonema. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Aglaonema. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been     observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to     about 37° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named ‘Decora’, as illustrated and described. 